What kind of teacher do I want to be?

There are some qualities that I think of when I think of a good teacher.First, good teachers should regard all students as equal to themselves, and treat them as such.They will not control students by force.Because you can't change people's mind by force.

What is active learning?

Japanese ministriy of education (MEXT) has issued the new curriculum guidance. The new curriculum guidance tells us to introduce active learning.The active learning is different from the traditional way of learning, in which students just passively take i

What do you want your students to learn in English classes?

I'd like my students to learn two things.First, of course, communication skills in English. Of four skills in English, reading, writing, listening, and speaking, I'd like to focus more on speaking skills in my class.  Japanese English education has been

The best and worst things about Japan

I think the best thing about Japan is that it is one of the safest countries in the world.You can leave your bag on your seat and use the restroom in the restaurant.When you are back to your seat, your bag will be still there.You can walk alone safely at

I've started to prepare for my next goal.

It's been a long time since I posted on this account. Thanks to my Eiken certificate, I've got a new job.I've been very busy and I feel fulfilled at work.Now I've started to study to achieve my goal of becoming a permanently employed teacher.The examinati

I attended the wedding ceremony.

One of my aquaintance got married today.And I attended the weddeing ceremony.I love attending wedding ceremonies, because it makes me happy.The happiness of newly-wed couple is contagious.They exchanged the wedding vows. It was the most solemn, emotional

New Year's Resolution

Today, I changed the course of RareJob.So far, I took the course of 8 lessons per month, with a fee of 5,180 yen.However, I had been so busy that I couldn't take lessons as many as 8 per month.So I thought I switch my online English lessons from RareJob t

A happy new year !

The new year has started. Happy new year! :-)I have been skipping my English study these days, which is not good.Of course, I listened to English every day, but that's not enough to improve my English speaking ability.Today I will introduce my favorite li

I passed Eiken Grade 1, Stage 2!!

I passed Eiken Grade 1, Stage 2, by the skin of my teeth !! I have barely made it !!However, I realized how poor my speaking skills are, so I continue to study.My score is;616/850The passing criteria is 602, so I almost failed !!The breakdown of the score

How to improve my speaking skills

I haven't received the test results of Eiken Grade 1, Stage 2 yet, but I started to practice speaking English.So far,I had been focused on listening English as much as possible, but I guess that's not enough.My weak point is that I don't have a wide varie

I am not getting enough sleep.

I am very sleepy.I have to go to bed before tomorrow comes.<Today's words>AとBを合わせたもの  A and B put together規模を縮小する scale backオンラインでも実店舗でも both online and offline  （実店舗はbrick-and-mortar とも言う）熱狂する be caught up i

Eiken 2nd Stage is over.

Last Sunday, I went to Tokyo to take Eiken second stage test.I don't know the results yet, but I think I failed the exam.:_(I couldn't express myself well.I think I was underprepared for the 2nd stage test.(I began to study for the second stage only after

What should be done to reverse desertification?

What should be done to reverse desertification?Desertification is a serious problem, which is exacerbated by the current global warming and overexploitation of soil as a result of human activity.Human populations are increasing at exponential rates, which

How to deal with the aging society?

How to deal with the aging society?Japan is facing the super aging society. There are a frew strategies for that. First, the government should extend the retirement age. Nowadays, many senior people aged 60 or older are very active and stay fit.  By ex

Which is more important, economy or hearlth?

Recently, the number of Covid-19 cases is rising, and it is called the 3rd wave of pandemic in this country. We face again a trade-off between protecting people's health and protecting the economy.However, the latest GDP data shows that there is no trade-

In what ways do the Internet make young people vulnerable?

This is the Internet age and young people cannot do without the Internet. There are a few ways the Internet makes young people more vulnerable.First,the Internet makes it possible for young people to interact with total strangers. There may be sexual pred

Should Japan make more efforts to prevent child abuse?

Should Japan make more efforts to prevent child abuse?Every day, the mass media report the hideous deaths of abused children. I think some countermeasures have to be taken to prevent child abuse. There are three strategies for that.First, child consultati

Is religion necessary for society?

Is religion necessary for society?I think religion is necessary and plays an important role for society.There are three reasons for this.First, religion will help us to foster a sense of moral. We should not place a priority only on material things such a

Is smaller classes beneficial ?

Is smaller classes beneficial ?In Japan,the number of students in one classroom are 35 to 40 , which is  higher compared with other countries.I think smaller classes at school should be put into practice soon. There are three reasons.First, there are bot

How to solve global warming?

How to solve global warming?The main culprit of global warming is carbon dioxide. So we have to decrease the amount of carbon dioxide.It is emitted from factories, automobiles, household, and so on. The use of fossil fuels will increase the output of carb

Do the benefits of prenatal diagnosis outweigh the disadvantages?

I don't think the benefits of prenatal diagnosis outweigh the disadvantages. There are some reasons for that.First, prenatal diagnisis can be used to choose the sex of your baby or to determine whether the baby has diseases or disability.  If the sex of

Is wearing masks effective in slowing coronavirus infection?

 Is wearing masks effective in slowing coronavirus infection?I think wearing masks is effective in slowing coronavirus infection.The recent study by the University of Tokyo shows that by wearing masks you can decrease the amount of virus.When you wear a

Should nuclear power be promoted?

I think that nuclear power should not be promoted. There are some reasons for that.First, nuclear power poses great risks and dangers. People still remember vividly the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster. It is said that nuclear power is low

Should corporal punishment be banned in schools?

Should corporal punishment be banned in schools?I think corporal punishment should be banned in schools.There are mainly two reasons for that.First, we can't improve students' behavior by violence. Corporal punishment will teach students that you can use

What are the causes of mental illnesses ?

What are the causes of mental illnesses ?I think there are mainly two factors for the onset of mental illnesses.Hereditary factors and environmental factors.First, it is known that mental illnesses tend to run in families. That suggests that mental illnes

What country has the best healthcare system in the world?

What country has the best healthcare system in the world?・As coronavirus pandemic spreads, Japan's low mortality rate has attracted media attention.I think Japan has the best healthcare system in the world, and that contributes to its low mortality rate.

I passed Eiken Grade1, Stage 1 test.

Yesterday I went to Eiken website to find the test results.  I took Eiken Grade 1, Stage 1 test. And...I have passed Stage 1!!!The scores are, Reading: 732/850,  Listening: 723/850,  Writing: 786/850.Eiken Band : G1 +9.I was most worried about my writi

Should criminals be required to financially compensate their victims?

Should criminals be required to financially compensate their victims?I think criminals should financially compensate their victims. Even if compensation cannot undo the harm caused by the crime, I think  some form of compensation should be made. There ar

Is it always good to prolong the life of the dying?

I don't think that it is always good to prolong the life of the dying.There are two reasons. First, there is a quality of life problem.It is good if the person can live a healthy life after that, but what if he becomes in a vegetative state?He is unconsci

The First Stage of Eiken is over.

Last Sunday I took Eiken Grade 1 Test. I don't know the results yet, but I started to prepare for the Second Stage Test, which is an interview-format speaking test.Maximum time limit for the speech is 2 minutes. I have to practice.After I practiced speaki

Are enough measures taken to protect wilderness areas worldwide ?

Are enough measures taken to protect wilderness areas worldwide ?Wilderness areas are designated to preserve its beautiful natural environment and animals from human intervention. The development of these areas are prohibited by law. It is necessary to pr

Is Japan doing enough to ensure its national security?

Is Japan doing enough to ensure its national security? Recently, North Korea has launched some ballistic missiles several times. Every time it launched a missile, the news made us fearful. If a war broke out between North Korea and the U.S., Japan would c

Agree or disagree: Japan should switch energy supply.

Agree or disagree: Japan should switch energy supply.Energy is indispensable for our lives. The main source of energy is fossil fuels, which has not changed for the past 50 years. This type of energy raises multiple problems, so I think Japan should switc

Is it an attainable goal to reverse the declining birth rate?

Is it an attainable goal to reverse the declining birth rate?In Japan, declining birth rate and aging society are a serious problem. If this trend continues, in 2060 there will be only one working person per one aged person. There will be serious shortage

Agree or disagree:Japan should accept more immigrants.

Agree or disagree:Japan should accept more immigrants. Nowadays, Japan has received the fourth largest number of immigrants from all over the world, which is counter-intuitive. In 2018, Japan enacted the Law for Partial Amendment to the Immigration Contr

July Review of the Month (2)

Following is the list of the words I learned this month, in alphabetical order.Choose the correct definition below.fissiparous / flashy  / fraternal  / gall / giveaway  / hype  / incongruous  / incur  / infatuated / infringement / infringement / lau

Can AI replace human jobs?

Can AI replace human jobs? As artificial intelligence (AI) develops at high speed, its application is expected to expand rapidly in various fields. Some people think that AI will replace human beings someday. I agree that AI will do monotonous or dangero

What do you listen to? 3

(Previous posts concerning listening practice)(What do you listen to? 1)(What do you listen to? 2)It's been a while since I wrote about my English study. Recently I downloaded a very good app. Even though everyone may already know it, I'd like to introduc

Is the elimination of racial discrimination an attainable goal?

Is the elimination of racial discrimination an attainable goal?The brutal death of George Floyd and the response of the government to the subsequent demonstrations clearly shows that racial discrimination still exists in the United States. Surely Barack O

July Review of the Month(1)

Following is the list of the words I learned this month, in alphabetical order.Choose the correct definition below.abet / altruistic/ beguile / complimentary / convex  /  concave  /  culinary  /  cursive /  debit  /  dissident  /  duplicitous /

Is putting an end to cyberbullying an attainable goal?

Is putting an end to cyberbullying an attainable goal?Recently, a famous TV personality committed suicide and the cyberbullying is said to be the reason. Cyberbullying is the big problem today, as the use of the Internet has proliferated. It is different

Agree or disagree : September admission should be introduced in Japan.

Agree or disagree :  September admission should be introduced in Japan.Because of the coronavirus pandemic, schools in Japan had been closed for as long as three months. In order to recover the delay of learning, the "September admission" system suddenly

Agree or disagree : Euthanasia should be perfectly leagl in Japan.

Agree or disagree : Euthanasia should be perfectly leagl in Japan.Recently, two doctors were arrested for euthanazing a woman with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These doctors were totally strangers to the woman. This case has raised some controversy

Do you think Trump will be re-elected in 2020?

Do you think Trump will be re-elected in 2020?The US presidential election is coming up on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.  Will Republican incumbent Donald Trump win over Democrat front-runner Joe Biden?I don't think Trump will be re-elected. There are three

Is online education really necessary in Japan?

Is online education really necessary in Japan?The coronavirus outbreak has changed our lives in many ways. One of them is education. Most public schools had been shut down for as long as three months due to the pandemic, which deprived children of importa

Should the death penalty be banned in Japan?

Should the death penalty be banned in Japan?Today, more and more countries, especially Western countries, have abolished capital punishment. The countries that still execute prisoners include Middle East countries, China, North Korea, Belarus, some Africa

Do you think climate change affect natural disasters?

Do you think climate change affect natural disasters? Every year, unprecedented natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, typhoons and tornadoes ravage the lives of many people.  I think that climate change, or global warming, is definitely respons

Was school closure effective ?

Agree or disagree : School closure was effective in mitigating coronavirus disease 2019. In March, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suddenly called on schools nationwide to shut down. Many students were deprived of important school events such as graduation cer

I have switched my goal.

I switched my goal from "scoring  900 or over in TOEIC" to  "passing EIKEN Grade1". Because I failed to apply for the 252nd TOEIC L&R Test.: (In EIKEN Grade 1, you are asked to write a 200-240 word composition on a given topic.In the 2nd stage, you have

I failed to apply for the TOEIC test. :_(

Today is the starting date of the application for the 252nd TOEIC L&R Test.Have you successfully submitted application online?...Well, I couldn't. :_(Only a few hours after the application started, the number of applicants has reached the limit and it was

TOEIC mock test results

（Concerning the TOEIC mock test, refer to the previous post.)Well, I took the TOEIC mock test last Sunday.  The score was higher than I had expected.  Is it because the test was easier than the actual one? Or, is it because my English skill has improve

TOEIC moc exam for free!

I got this information from one of my acquaintance's Facebook post.Since TOEIC tests were cancelled from April to June, the IIBC (the Institute for International Business Communication)  is  providing free mock TOEIC test!!Taking TOEIC test is very expe

Bags for life

From July 1, the plastic shopping bags are to be charged at convenient stores and grocery supermarkets.I used to  carry ”eco bags" - or reusable shopping bags, because they gave you some reward points for using such bags.But now they will not  give you

I had a fever

I had had a fever above 37.5 degrees these days.  It's not that high, to be sure, but it exhausted my old body. (T^T)I wondered if I had coronavirus, but maybe it's not the case.I don't know for sure, because I don't get the testing, but it's not serious

This month's review

Following is the list of the words I learned this month, in alphabetical order.Choose the correct definition below.abdicate    /      amnesty    /      appease    /      atrocity    /      bounty    /      clemencyc

Breakfast

Today's breakfast for my two daughters.Today's post has nothing to do with English study.I get up at 6 every morning to prepare breakfast for my two daughters.Monday  / rice balls or a bowl of rice Tuesday / sweet bread (pancakes or a slice of French to

How to build vocabulary 2

Today, I'll write about my word list.When I come across the words I don't know, I screenshot the webpage and save it.Then I add the words to the Excel List.The titles in the list are --the word, its phonetic symbol, meaning in Japanese, and example senten

How to build vocabulary? 1

Journaling every day is hard. After one day's hard work, I became too sleepy to do anything using my brain.Weekend, at last !!Today I will write about building vocabulary.How to improve your vocabulary efficiently?Well, I sometimes use a quiz app in which

What do you listen to? 2

Today I'm going to write what I'm listening to to improve my listening skill.Mainly I listen to three programs.1) NHK English program titled "Business Communication in Action", or "Jissen Business Eigo"I listen to Today's Vignette two or three times, befo

What do you listen to? 1

Today I'm going to write what I am listening to everyday for improving listening skill.But before that, let me introduce you my reliable partner -or should I say partners? - for listening practice.Wewow [蓋開けただけでペアリング済み2020最新イヤホン bluet

Reading practice

I began to practice reading.I have once set myself the goal of reading as many as 100 English books.I think maybe I have accomplished the goal, if I include thin paperback books in number.But these days I don't read English books at all. All English sente

I plan on taking the TOEIC test.

I plan on taking the TOEIC test in September.I need hight score to apply for the job I want.I have little time to prepare for that, so I restarted to keep an English diary.I have to read English books, too.The problem is that I become sleepy as soon as I